Porthtowan
Encyclopedia
Porthtowan is a small village in Cornwall
, England, in the United Kingdom, and is a popular summer tourist destination which lies within the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape
, a World Heritage Site
. Porthtowan lies on Cornwall's north Atlantic
coast about 2 km (1.2 mi) west of St Agnes
, 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Redruth
, 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Truro
and 15 km (9.3 mi) south-west of Newquay
. Newquay Cornwall Airport is nearby and private jets, charters and helicopters are served by Perranporth Airfield
. Its name comes from the Cornish
words 'porth' and 'tewynn' to mean Cove of Sand Dunes.
coastal walks to nearby Chapel Porth, Wheal Coates
, Trevaunance Cove and St Agnes
.
Porthtowan owes much of its present day character to its popularity as a local seaside resort in Victorian
and Edwardian times when the local populace from Redruth and the surrounding areas went there, particularly on Bank Holidays. Overlooking Porthtowan are the remains of Wheal Towan, one of Cornwall's most prolific 18th century copper mines, which provided Ralph Allen Daniell of Trelissick with a fortune estimated at the time as a "guinea a minute" night and day.
consisting of wide soft white sands and dunes. However a Independent on Sunday
report in 2009 suggested that more than half of the South-West's sewage related debris was found on the beach, largely arising from nearby storm drains that could overflow with sewage after rainfall.
. This is where the judges can be found for the annual SAS Rip Curl Cornish and Open Longboard Championship which is widely covered by the local radio station Atlantic FM
. The beach is kept under the constant scrutiny of the St Agnes
based charity Surfers Against Sewage
.
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, England, in the United Kingdom, and is a popular summer tourist destination which lies within the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape
Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape
The Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape is a World Heritage Site which includes select mining landscapes across Cornwall and West Devon in the south west of the United Kingdom...
, a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. Porthtowan lies on Cornwall's north Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coast about 2 km (1.2 mi) west of St Agnes
St Agnes, Cornwall
St Agnes is a civil parish and a large village on the north coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately five miles north of Redruth and ten miles southwest of Newquay....
, 4 km (2.5 mi) north of Redruth
Redruth
Redruth is a town and civil parish traditionally in the Penwith Hundred in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It has a population of 12,352. Redruth lies approximately at the junction of the A393 and A3047 roads, on the route of the old London to Land's End trunk road , and is approximately west of...
, 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
and 15 km (9.3 mi) south-west of Newquay
Newquay
Newquay is a town, civil parish, seaside resort and fishing port in Cornwall, England. It is situated on the North Atlantic coast of Cornwall approximately west of Bodmin and north of Truro....
. Newquay Cornwall Airport is nearby and private jets, charters and helicopters are served by Perranporth Airfield
Perranporth Airfield
Perranporth Airfield airfield is located southwest of Perranporth and southwest of Newquay, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is a former World War II Royal Air Force fighter station....
. Its name comes from the Cornish
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
words 'porth' and 'tewynn' to mean Cove of Sand Dunes.
History
Porthtowan's history is associated with mining and one of its most prominent buildings is a former engine house converted for residential use. It is also within walking distance by National TrustNational Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
coastal walks to nearby Chapel Porth, Wheal Coates
Wheal Coates
Wheal Coates is a former tin mine situated on the north coast of Cornwall, England, on the cliff tops between Porthtowan and St Agnes. It is preserved and maintained by the National Trust.‘Wheal’ is Cornish for ‘mine’...
, Trevaunance Cove and St Agnes
St Agnes, Cornwall
St Agnes is a civil parish and a large village on the north coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately five miles north of Redruth and ten miles southwest of Newquay....
.
Porthtowan owes much of its present day character to its popularity as a local seaside resort in Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
and Edwardian times when the local populace from Redruth and the surrounding areas went there, particularly on Bank Holidays. Overlooking Porthtowan are the remains of Wheal Towan, one of Cornwall's most prolific 18th century copper mines, which provided Ralph Allen Daniell of Trelissick with a fortune estimated at the time as a "guinea a minute" night and day.
Beach
Porthtowan has a Blue Flag beachBlue Flag beach
The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards.The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE which is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation consisting of 65 organisations in 60 member countries in Europe,...
consisting of wide soft white sands and dunes. However a Independent on Sunday
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
report in 2009 suggested that more than half of the South-West's sewage related debris was found on the beach, largely arising from nearby storm drains that could overflow with sewage after rainfall.
Surfing
Porthtowan has more recently become well known as a surf resort and the surfclub building can be found directly on the Blue Flag beachBlue Flag beach
The Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards.The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE which is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation consisting of 65 organisations in 60 member countries in Europe,...
. This is where the judges can be found for the annual SAS Rip Curl Cornish and Open Longboard Championship which is widely covered by the local radio station Atlantic FM
Atlantic FM
Atlantic FM, is a radio station based in and serving Cornwall, United Kingdom. The station, owned by Atlantic Broadcasting Ltd, began broadcasting on July 6, 2006 at 0730 BST, and is broadcast from St Agnes...
. The beach is kept under the constant scrutiny of the St Agnes
St Agnes, Cornwall
St Agnes is a civil parish and a large village on the north coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately five miles north of Redruth and ten miles southwest of Newquay....
based charity Surfers Against Sewage
Surfers against Sewage
Surfers Against Sewage is a campaign for clean, safe recreational water free from sewage effluents, toxic chemicals, nuclear waste and marine litter. SAS also campaigns to protect surf spots from environmental damage, negative impacts on wave quality and to safeguard wave riders right of access....
.